retain hold of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retain hold of" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where one wants to express the idea of keeping possession or control over something, but it is better to use more conventional phrases. Example: "It is important to retain hold of your personal belongings during the event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

You know the sort of thing: middle-aged women rolling around in the aisles as they snatch the last games console from each other's grasp; overweight men, dressed in sports gear, throwing jabs while simultaneously trying to retain hold of three widescreen televisions (and some dignity).

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And the third is Bill Paxon.The reason, oddly enough, is that Mr Paxon's sacking (he would surely have been pushed if he had not jumped) gives him a freedom of speech and action that will be particularly valuable as the Republicans, who barely retained hold of Congress in last year's election, limp on to next year's.

The Economist

Remember, folks: her ultimate goals are to retain her youth and keep hold of her powers, which are both slipping away each and every episode.

Huffington Post

Knowledge is power and memory is the way to retain that knowledge and keep hold of that power.

WikiHow

After the sale, Vivendi will retain a holding of 12% in the games firm.

BBC

Democrats have an uphill climb to retain of control of the seat held by longtime Sen. Max Baucus before he was tapped to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Los Angeles Times

Once the bank's shares are listed on the stock market, the Co-op Gretainill retain a majority holding of around 75%.

The Guardian - Business

As it is, they can retain part of their holding in Absa.

The Guardian - Business

With this model, he said, the founder of the company could retain control of the holding company while giving children and grandchildren the capital to start other businesses — or do something completely different.

The New York Times

It is expected to retain its holding under the deal.

Forbes

Regardless, it certainly wants to retain the image of holding decisive influence over Assad — that, along with its airbase in Khmeimim, are the most useful chips it has in the Syrian conflict.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the somewhat awkward phrase "retain hold of", consider using clearer and more common alternatives like "keep hold of" or "maintain control of" for better readability.

Common error

Avoid using "retain hold of" in formal writing. It adds unnecessary complexity. Simpler alternatives enhance clarity and professionalism. For example use "keep" instead of "retain" and "control" instead of "hold".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain hold of" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express the idea of maintaining possession or control. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not standard in written English and may sound awkward. More conventional phrases would be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Science

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "retain hold of" aims to convey maintaining possession or control, it's generally considered awkward and non-standard in English. Ludwig AI highlights this point, recommending more conventional alternatives. Grammatically, it functions as a verb phrase, but its infrequent and awkward usage makes it unsuitable for formal contexts. As such, opting for clearer alternatives such as "keep hold of" or "maintain control of" is advisable for more effective communication. The phrase appears rarely across various contexts, including News & Media and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Retain control over

Highlights keeping the power or authority over something.

Keep control of

Focuses on maintaining authority or command over something.

Maintain a firm hold on

Emphasizes the strength and stability of the control being exerted.

Maintain possession of

Emphasizes the act of keeping something one already has, often in a formal context.

Sustain control of

Highlights the continuous effort required to keep control.

Preserve possession of

Focuses on maintaining the state of having something, often with a sense of care.

Retain ownership of

Focuses specifically on maintaining legal rights to something.

Hold onto

Suggests a tight grip or determined effort to keep something, often used informally.

Keep a grip on

Implies effort to maintain control, often in a challenging situation.

Hold fast to

Suggests clinging tightly to something, often in the face of adversity.

FAQs

What does "retain hold of" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "retain hold of" implies maintaining possession or control. It's often better to use more common alternatives like "keep hold of" or "maintain control of".

How can I use "retain hold of" in a sentence?

Although grammatically questionable, you might use "retain hold of" in informal contexts. However, consider more conventional phrases like "He tried to "keep hold of" the valuable artifact".

What's a better way to say "retain hold of"?

Alternatives include "keep control of", "maintain possession of", or simply "hold onto", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "retain hold of" grammatically correct?

The phrase "retain hold of" is considered grammatically awkward and is not commonly used. Using more standard phrases like "keep hold of" or "maintain control of" is preferable.